Davide Ret
Senior Scientist Dr.techn., MScGetreidemarkt 9
1060 
BC03A26 view map
;void(0);){kind=link}
+43 1 58801 163743 +43 1 58801 - 163 316 (Labor) +43 1 58801 - 163743
0000-0002-7461-0923
CV
Dr. Davide Ret has been at TU Wien’s Institute of Applied Synthetic Chemistry since 2013. After completing a Technical High School Diploma in Chemistry, he studied organic chemistry at the University of Trieste (Italy). During an exchange semester in Zaragoza (Spain), he developed a strong interest in immunology. He completed his master’s thesis on starch modification in collaboration with the AGRANA Research & Innovation Center GmbH (Austria). He earned his PhD at TU Wien, focusing on the modification and characterization of hyaluronic acid. He now works as a senior scientist in the Research Group of Polymer Chemistry and Technology.
Research Interests
His team focuses on the modification and analysis of polysaccharides, oligosaccharides, and glycoconjugates.
Key expertise includes:
- Characterization and conformational analysis of polymers in solution
- Physical non-thermal plasma derivatization of polymeric materials
- Surface functionalization with biologically active glycoconjugates
- Glycomics
Ongoing Projects
Glycomics in medicine
The team investigates glycosylation patterns in diverse biological samples—tissues, blood, and milk—as well as in food. They study protein–carbohydrate interactions, including glycobiomarkers, antibody glycosylation, pathogen–sugar binding, lectins, and the role of sialic acids in nutrition and disease.
In 2025, the Vienna Science and Technology Fund (WWTF) funded a project on post-acute infection syndromes (PAIS) from a glycomics perspective (link). Preliminary findings indicate increased levels of sialic acid in the blood plasma of patients with post-acute infection conditions, suggesting possible pathogen persistence (bacterial or viral). These insights also help explain symptoms such as fatigue. By combining chemical derivatization, knowledge of polymer behavior in solution, and mechanical/structural characterization, the project seeks a deeper understanding of disease mechanisms. The study also examines the glycosylation of antibodies and red blood cells, providing a clearer picture of blood behavior and rheological properties in PAIS patients. This project is conducted in close collaboration with Eva Untersmayr-Elsenhuber’s group at the Institute for Pathophysiology and Allergy Research, Medical University of Vienna.
This close partnership across disciplines (chemistry, biology, immunology and clinical expertise) delivers a comprehensive view of PAIS and drives the development of targeted, evidence-based interventions.
Link to Davide’s talk at the Scientific Symposium on PAIS: https://tucloud.tuwien.ac.at/index.php/s/W8CotKZ8E6ncQXd
Carbohydrate polymers modification
Many carbohydrate-based materials require tailored modification to achieve desired properties. The team has strong expertise in derivatizing carbohydrate polymers, both neutral (starch-based) and polyelectrolytes (e.g., hyaluronan) to deliver tunable, application-specific characteristics.
Plasma surface modification
Physical plasma activation for advanced surface engineering is a green environmentally friendly technique for surface modification. Using low-pressure radio-frequency plasma, activates polymeric substrates and then decorates them with functional glycans that play biological roles, such as receptors for pathogen adhesion or for cell stimulation-adhesion.
Team members
Daniel García de Otrazo Hernandez is an early career researcher with a strong interest in chemistry and molecular biology. He entered the field of glycomics as a research assistant at TU Wien during his master’s studies and completed an exchange semester at Pohang University of Science and Technology, where he expanded his knowledge in immunology, cellular signaling, and synthetic biology. Upon returning to TU Wien, he rejoined Davide Ret’s lab, where he developed methods to analyze glycosylation profiles in PAIS patients as part of his master’s thesis. He is currently a fellow at the Korean Research Center for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, investigating the molecular mechanisms underlying ME/CFS.
Link to Daniel’s talk at the Scientific Symposium on PAIS:
Figure 1: Graphical abstract of Daniel’s fellowship project. He aims to study what drives the loss of surface sialic acid on the red blood cells in ME/CFS patients.
Dipl.-Ing. Philip Sgarz is doing his PhD on the functionalization of synthetic surfaces with biomolecules, especially glycans. The aim is to establish a versatile technique for obtaining greater insight into the complex interactions of cells with their environment ranging from the surrounding cells and extracellular matrix to various pathogens.
With a strong interest in the intersection of applied chemistry, material science and medicine, Philip completed his bachelor’s thesis on the synthesis of novel degradable monomers for bone-replacement materials followed by a master’s degree specializing in applied synthetic chemistry. His master’s thesis focused on synthesis, characterization and processing of self-reinforcing thermoplastic elastomers for use in artificial vascular grafts. First experiences in the fields of bioanalytics and pathology were gained working in the Division of Animal Health at the Austrian Agency for Health and Food Safety (AGES).